Measuring instrument



April 4, 1933. Al A VLCEK .Y 1,903,393

MEASURING INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 24, 1931 "50 vation.

Patented pr. 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PArENTjQp-FIC ALoLrH A. vLcEx, or CLEVELAND, onIo, AssIGNoR or .ONE-HALF To Bonner LAKEWOOD, oHro ARTHE H. VAN

MEASUEING INSTRUMENT i' Application led January 24, 1931. Serial No. 1.510,97?. ,Y

My invention is an improvement in compasses, dividers, or other geometrical instruments.

One ofthe objects of my invention is to construct a compass or divider in which the legs carrying the points may be maintained in planes parallel to each other and each 1n turn perpendicular to a third plane such as is represented by the top surface of a drafting board, regardless uof the degree of. sepa- '25 vention will become more apparent `from the following description of two embodiments thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters are employed .to designate like parts throughout the same.

In .the drawing 'Figure `1 is a top plan View of one ment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same. Figure .3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and shows several of the parts in elevation.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the compass or divider shown in Figure 2 and illus- 140 trates the relative positions of the parts when the respective legs of the compass or divider are in closed position.

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary front elevation of a second embodiment.y of my invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of .the upper portion `of the device shown 1n Figure 5. i Y

Figure 7 is a section taken on l1ne 7-7 of Figure 5, showing some of the parts ineleembodi- In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention in V.which the head of the compass or dividerV `1s shown at 1. The legs 3 and 4 are pivotally connected to the headv on opposite sides thereof by means of the screw pins 2. The upper ends of the legs are pivotally secured within the slotted portions 5.of the head and are freely movable therein about .the pins 2. The

legs 3 and 4 carry extensionsinv the form of socket members 6 and 7 `respectively which are. pivotally connected to the. lowerrends of the respectivelejgs 3 and 4.l Infthe embodiment Villustrated the member 6 ris shown asremovably receiving a pencil or other scribing instrumentof the usual type while the member 7 removably vcarries the center point 9.

`I have provided means for maintaining the extensions 6 and 7 in substantiallyparallel planes throughout the entire adjustment of the legs 3 and 4. One form of this means is Y illustrated in Figures 1 to 4inclusive as coinprising a plurality lof links 10 and 11 which are pivotally Vconnected at their respective upper ends to' theheadl by means ofthe screw pins 12, and at their lower respective ends to the respectiveextensions .6 and 71by means of the pins 13. It ,will be noted in this embodiment of my invention that I have provided the links 10 and 11 in pairs. This is more clearly illustrated in Figure 1in vwhich the links of each pair extend in planes on opposite sides of the planes of the respective legs 3 and 4. In this mannerthe construction of the device is rendered sturdy and durable and assists in bracing the respective legs 3 and 4 against lateral movement with respect to the head ofthe device. I have also provided means ,for adjusting thelegs V3 and 4to. any desirableposition within the limits of adjustment, and to maintain Ythe .selected adjustment in fixed position. This means includes ashaft 14 extending into the-head and downwardly between the `respective vadjustable legs 3 and 4. The lower end ofthe shaft is threaded while graduations 14 may be ap- Y with an opening. 16 for receiving the adjustthese links operate on both sides of the respective legs 3 and 4 and between therespective links of the pairs 10 and 11.V It will thus be seen that by turning vthe 1nut'17 in the proper direction on the shaft 14 that the carriage may be vmoved axially along the shaft in either direction to effect the desired adjust-y ment of the legs and the desired spacing of the members 6 and 7 in substantially parallel? planes. c

A'lock nut 23 is carried on the lower end of the threaded shaft 14 and may be brought into engagement with the carriage4 17 'after the latter vhas been adjusted on the shaft to the desired position, tolock the same against accidental displacement and to maintain ythe desired spaced adjustment of the members' and 7. Theshaft 1'4' may be removably carried in the head 1 by means of a set screw 25. A knob or handle v24 y may be integrally formed with the head 1 or may be fixedly inserted thereinto.

It will be seen that the apparatus shown as illustrating thisembodiment of my invention is capable of quick adjustment and to subsequent finer adjustment. This is accomplished by loosening the set screw 25 and causing the shaft 14 to be moved axially in either direction therethrough to obtain a rough adjustment whereupon the set screw 25 may be screwed against the shaft and the nut 17 operated to obtain a liner adjustment between the members 8 and 9. This latter fine adjustment may be maintained by advancing the lock nut 23 into'tight engagement with the'bottom wall of the carriage 15 as illusrated in Figure 2.

In Figures 5,6 and 7 I have illustrated another embodiment of my invention which in many respects is similar to that already described. Y

In this embodiment of the invention the head 26 is adapted to receive a shaft( 27 threaded for a portion of its length, and is provided with an opening 28 for rotatably receiving a nut 29 removably secured to the shaft 27 by means of a set screw 30. The upper end of the shaft may extend beyond the head 26 to receive an operating knob or handle 31; InV this embodiment of my invention the carriage is illustrated at 32 and is internally threaded to engage the threads of the shaft 27 .for movement axially along the shaft when the shaft is rotated. Links 3-3 and 34 are pivotally connected at their respectiveends to the carriage 32 and tothe connecting links 35 and 36 respectively, the links 35 and 36 being pivotally connected to the head 26 and to the leg extensions 37 and 38. It will be noted in this form of therinven tion that the links 33 and 34 are directly and pivotally connected with the links as. distinguished from the form shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive in which lthese links are connected to the legs 3 and 4. 1

It will be seen therefore that by turning the nut 29 which is carried on the shaft 27,v the internally threaded carriage 32 may be moved axially along the threaded shaft 27 in either direction to adjust the extensions 37 and 38 in any desired spaced parallel relaj tion. A WhenV the. adjustment is made it may kbe locked or maintained by tightening the nut .j 39 which extends through the head 26 and engages the shaft 27.

In use theform shown inFigs. 1-.to4 inclusive operates as follows: Assuming that the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 4, in closed position, and that it is desired to space the extensions 6 and 7 to a position illustrated in Figure 2, a quickadjust-v ment may be made by loosening the vnut 25 and slipping the shaft 14 upwardly through the head 1 and the handle or knob 24 until the approximate desired adjustment is obtained `as indicated by the cooperating graduation marks and the upper wall of thev carriage-15. Then the nut 25 is tightened on the shaft to prevent further movementof the shaft in either direction with respect to the head. It may be desired toobtain a finer adjustment by loosening the nut 23 on the shaft and then by turning the nut 17in either direction until the points 8 and 9 are spaced accurately as desired. Ihen the nut 23may be brought" into tight engagement with the bottom wall of the carriage 15 to maintain this ne adjustment. The use of the device may then be carried out in the usual manner by gripping the knob 24; In

the event that it is desired to disassemble'the device as illustrated in-these figures theY nut 25 may be loosened together with either of the screw pins 20 and 21 and 22 to disconnect thelinks 18 and 19 from the legs 3 and 4k or fromthe carriagel. The shaft, carriage and links 18 and 19y mayA then be removed as a unit from the head 1. In connection with the embodiment shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the use may be de-i scribed-as follows: Assuming that its points are in closed relation as shown in a portion of Figure 5 and itis desired to separate themv in spaced parallel relation such as is illustrated by another portion of Figure 5 the user loosens the lnut`39 and rotates Vthe'nut 29 and the shaft 27 to which it issecured. According to the direction of rotation of the nut 29 the carriage 32 may be caused to travel axially up or down the shaft 27 t0 separate or bring the parts in closed positions as illustrated in the lower portion of this figure. When the desired adjustment is obtained, the nut 39 is tightened on the shaft 27 to maintain this adjustment.

It will be seen that I have provided a very simple instrument for accurately and quickly adjusting a compass or divider or other geometrical instrument of like nature in such a manner that the operating points may be maintained in substantially parallel planes throughout any adjustment thereof. At the same time I have provided a sturdy structure which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Furthermore this device may be readily disassembled for repair or cleaning and may be reassembled again without in any way impairing the usefulness thereof.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A device of the class described including a head, legs pivoted to the head, elongated instrument carrying extensions pivotally carried by thev legs, means for maintaining the extensions substantially parallel Vthroughout the movement of said legs, and

means for moving the legs to a predetermined adjusted position, said last named means including a stem operable in the head and threaded throughout its major portion,

" a carriage threadedly engaging the threads of the stein and movable along'the stem, and links pivotally connecting the carriage with the said respective legs, and a set screw carried by the said head and engageable with the stem to lock the same in predetermined adjustment in the head.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

ADOLPH A. VLCEK. 

